The full line up for City of Wolverhampton's new Comedy Festival 'Funny Things' has been announced.

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Creative Black Country are co-ordinating the festival, which will see more than 120 events from Monday 23 October to Sunday 5 November.

It includes a range of local and national partners and artists, opportunities for local people to get involved, star acts, a platform for new talent - and a whole load of funny things.

City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor John Reynolds, said: "After the success of the literature festival earlier this year we are delighted to be hosting another high-profile festival across the city.

"This comedy festival will bring a lot of laughter to venues across the city including comedy theatre, music, poetry, film, stand up, family activities, talks and workshops."

Parminder Dosanjh, Creative Director of Creative Black Country, added: "For the first time the City of Wolverhampton will come together and host over 120 events in the name of humour.

"We're pleased to see a whole range of events that explore comedy at its broadest sense.

"Alongside stand up we have artist commissions and events that reflect local voices."

Brand new commissions include festival band, Orchestra of Chaos who will be popping up in and around the City of Wolverhampton with their unique brand of music, and producing a digital fanzine of people's funny stories on the way.

Redhawk Logistica's #JokeExchange has been gathering residents' funniest one-liners, which have been paraded on placards around the city centre throughout September. Join their mass placard procession on October 28 and see the entire joke selection together in one place.

Creative Producer Darwinder Bansal invites you to visit her Bollywood video shop Jambo Cinema at Wolverhampton Art Gallery and see a recreation of Aunty and Uncle Bansal's retro living room from the 1980s.

There will be plenty of opportunities for families to have a giggle together with a special child-friendly programme. Newhampton Arts Centre will host slapstick, comedy and comic drawing workshops alongside a Custard Pie Ceremony while Windsor Toys in Penn have invited Emma Purshouse to perform an intimate poetry show for kids.

The Civic Halls will have some of the best comedians on the circuit including German comedian Henning Wehn (27 October), Canadian Tom Stade (26 October) and off the wall performer Milton Jones (4 November).

City of Wolverhampton's pubs and bars - The Gifford Arms, The Lych Gate Tavern and The Outback will be transformed into comedy venues with a mix of well-known names and emerging talent from improv and stand up to film and cabaret. 

Visitors will be able to see how Arena Theatre produce 4 short comic plays in just 24 hours for 14/48 (28 October) while the BBC Asian Network invite star names for Comedy Live at the Light House (5 November).

Budding comedians will be given plenty of chances to try out their own sketches in front of an audience. The Midland's heat of the Funny Women Awards (1 November) will take place at The Slade Rooms hosted by Barbara Nice. Past winners include Sara Pascoe and Katherine Ryan.

The Stand-up Challenge Showcase (2 November) at Molineux stadium will give local business people the chance to try out their first ever five minutes of stand-up, and for students and academics Bright Club is the perfect opportunity to combine study and comedy.

The full Funny Things Festival line-up can be seen by visiting Type=links;Linkid=9687;Title=Funny Things;Target=_blank;.

  • released: Monday 25 September, 2017